Tasman Fracture Marine Park

Tasman Fracture Marine Park lies off the south-west corner of Tasmania, complementing the Port Davey Marine Reserve which was proclaimed in 2005 by the Tasmanian Government. The Tasman Fracture Marine Park is scored by steep canyons, and encloses other geological features including steep escarpments, troughs, saddles, basins, seamounts and part of a plateau that is over 400 kilometres long and rises three kilometres above the seafloor. These features host spectacular deep-water coral communities, providing habitat for a rich diversity of marine invertebrates and fish species. The waters of the marine park are also home to many species of seabirds, seals and cetaceans such as dolphins and killer whales.

Video

A deep reef biodiversity survey was carried out in the Tasman Fracture Marine Park in January 2009. The survey, jointly carried out by the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub, CSIRO, National Science Foundation and Woods Hole Advanced Imaging and Visualisation Laboratory used a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to observe the marine life down to depths over 3800 metres.

Research

These short articles highlight the findings from ongoing scientific research within the Tasman Fracture Marine Park, including exciting new discoveries and ideas for future projects.

Natural values

Our marine parks have a number of different values, including natural, cultural, heritage and socio-economic values. The natural values of our marine parks refer to the habitats, species and ecological communities within them, and the processes that support their connectivity, productivity and function. Below are the key datasets that help inform park managers about the natural values that exist within our network of Australian Marine Parks. For more information on other park values refer to the relevant park Management Plans on the Parks Australia website.

See which wetlands of international significance are protected by Australian Marine Parks.

Maps

The information provided by these datasets was integral in the planning and development of our national network of marine parks. Learn in detail about how scientists and marine park planners used these important marine features together to design Australia's network of marine parks, or explore the datasets for the Tasman Fracture Marine Park individually through the links below.

See which areas of Australia's marine environments have been World Heritage listed.

Latest maps

Since the initial planning of the Australian Marine Parks Network in 2012, new mapping data has emerged that allows us to see in finer detail the features that exist within our parks. These datasets help marine managers to understand more about what's under the surface, where there are overlaying management or protection regimes, and/or where pressures on the marine environment may be increasing.